Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will focus on the particular group who do not qualify for the various social welfare payments such as child dependant payments. Child benefit is probably the only social welfare payment going into the house and it is a hugely significant part of the overall household budget. It has not been increased in many years from the €140 rate. If she were to make a change in that, the Minister would be supporting all these other families who do not qualify for social welfare. The various bodies that have examined the different budgets have identified that the people on the lower income deciles and those on the higher income deciles benefited, but the middle four deciles, who do not qualify for social welfare and pay for many things, are under pressure and are not gaining as others have. Will the Minister see whether there is a way to support those families with a key component of the household budget, the child benefit rate?

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